Valved pipe coupling



May 22, 1951 A. T. scHElwER vALvED PIPE couPLING 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 6, 1947 :inventor me# nwe/Jef Gttorncg May 22, 1951 A. T. srcHElwER 2,553,680

vALvEn PIPE couPLING Filed Dec. s, 1947 s sheets-sheet 2 3nventor (Ittorneg May22,195.1 M SCHEWER' 2,553,680

vALvED PIPE coUPLING Filed Dec. e, 1947 3 sheets-sheet 3 (Ittotneg Patented May 22, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVED PIPE COUPLING Albert T. Schciwer, Erie, Pa.

Application December 6, 1947, Serial No. 790,119

16 Claims. l

This invention relates generally to couplings for hose lines and more particularly to quickly attachable and detachable couplings for hose lines having fluid and dirt sealing means in the male and female members for sealing each of the coupling members upon disconnection thereof.

Couplings having longitudinally movable check valves are usually so constructed that the check valves cock or become wedged in the male or female coupling member thereby destroying the Seal upon the disconnection of the coupling member. These prior coupling yVrrlembers have not provided means for connecting the male coupling member to the female `coupling member by mere insertion of the connecting portion of the male coupling member to the female coupling member. Furthermore prior couplings of this type have provided no means for keeping dust and dirt out of the coupling whenfthe male and female coupling members are disconnected. Also fluid gets trapped in these prior coupling members thereby making it impossible to make a connection therebetween. It has also heretofore been necessary to have a comparatively long male and female coupling member to house the check valves therein.

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to overcome the above and other defects incouplings having check valves therein and it is more particularly an object of my invention to provide a coupling having check valves therein which is simple in construction, economical in cost, economical in manufactura'elcient in operation, and easf.7 to operate.

Another object of my invention is to provide vent means in the female coupling member when it is disconnected from the male coupling member.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel means for sealing the male and the female coupling members upon disconnection thereof.

. Another object of my invention is to provide a dirt and dust seal for coupling members.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel check valves for coupling members.

Another object of my invention is to materially shorten male and female coupling members with check valves therein.

Another object of my invention is to provide a coupling which is particularly adaptable for use with vacuum.

Another object of my invention is to provide a check valve in a female coupling member which is utilized to hold camming members in the path of a camming sleeve whereby the malemember may be inserted and locked in the female member without manual operation of the camming sleeve.

Other objects of my invention will become evident from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view with one side thereof broken away on the axial center line, of my novel coupling in a locked position;

Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken 'on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View with one side thereof broken away on the axial center line showing the male coupling member partially inserted into the female coupling member;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational exploded view with parts thereof broken away of the male and female coupling members of my novel coupling;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational View, with one side thereof broken away on the axial center line, of a modified formof my coupling in a locked position; d

Fig. 7 is an exploded View with one side thereof broken away on the axial center line, of the male and female coupling members shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is aside elevational view of another modified form of my invention in a locked position.

Referring now to the drawings, I show in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive a male coupling member I comprising a cylindrical shell 2 having an outwardly extending wrench engaging portion 3, a threaded portion 4 for connection to any suitable hose line, and an internally threaded portion 5 for threadable engagement with the threaded end 6 of a stationary sleeve 7. The sleeve 'I has an outwardly directed end flange 8, laterally extending apertures Sand a peripheral groove I0. A ring washer I4 is disposed adjacent the flange 8 of the sleeve 'I forsealing engagement with the L-shaped groove I3 in the forward end of locking and sealing sleeve I4 when the malevcoupling member I is disconnected as in Fig. 5. The locking sleeve I4 has an outwardly extending wrench engaging portion I5, cam or ball retaining apertures I6 for retainingv camming members such as balls I1, an internal peripheral groove I8 for receiving a washer I9 and an L-shaped groove 20 for nesting a spring 2I which urges the sleeve I4 into sealing engagement with the washer I2 and the laterally extending aperture 9 of the sleeve 1. A flat annular spring 22 is disposed in tapered groove 23 for retaining the balls I1 in the ballretaining apertures I6 and for urging them inwardly into the peripheral groove III of the sleeve 1.

The female member 30 comprises a cylindrical shell 3i having stepped reduced portions 32 and 33, an internal peripheral groove 34 for receiving a washer 35, ball retaining apertures 36 for receiving camming members or balls 31, and a spring clip groove 38 for nesting a spring clip 39 for limiting and stopping the longitudinal movement of alocking---Sleeve 4,6 Whichmoves over the reduced portion 33 of the member 3|. The locking sleeve 40 has a camming portion 4I for engaging the balls 31 and a spring member 42 urges the camming portion 4I of the lockingsleeve 4t into locking engagement with the balls 31 to urge them into the groove 23 in the sleeve I4 and into engagement with the spring22 wherebythe balls I1 are locked in the groove I0 on the sleeve 1 as in Fig. 1. The shell 3i has an internal shoulder 44 and an internally threaded portion 45 on Ythe end thereof for threadably lengaging thev enlarged .threaded portion 46 of Va. concentrically disposed cylindrical member 41. The cylindrical member i1 .has an outwardly7 extending wrench engaging portion/,48,a threaded `portion 49 for threadably engaging a hose coupling or the like, laterally outwardly extending apertures 58 vwith counterbores mfperipheral washer grooves -I for receiving Vwashers'fi', ia `.wall portion 53, anl outwardly extending ,portionid Ahaving a laterally extending aperture 55 '.andra venting vaperture `56. A .movable sleeve 'G6 is `telescopicallydisposed on the `cylindrical member 74.1, land has a shoulder 6I withan adjacently disposed ring washer 52 laterally extending apertures 63 adapted to register with the apertures in the cylindrical member 41 when-thenmale yandrfemalecoupling members I and 36 are connected together as shown in Fig. l, and -withthe .apertures 55 when the coupling members v,i and 330 .are disconnected as shown in Fig. 5, a `transverse wall 64 and a recessed portion 65 for nesting the end of the iianged portion 8 of the `malei-nfiemlfier I. Spring 66 urges the washer -62 on the movable sleeve'll into sealing engagementwiththe shoulder 44 of the outer shell 3l.

In operation, thezflocking` sleeve '46 is moved longitudinally against the force-of the spring Ai12 to permit the balls 31 to move outwardly in the ball retaining apertures-3E. `The sleeve I4 of the i -1 of the spring '66 until the balls 31 engage the t peripheral -groove23 on the sleeve I4 of the male member I and spring .22 vto urge the balls I1 carried by the sleeve Minto locking engagement with the peripheral groove III on the sleeve 1. After the male member I is inserted into the female member 3B va predetermined distance, `the ange nosed portion 8 moves out of sealing engagement with the sleeve I4 thereby unsealing the laterally extending aperture 5in the sleeve 1 to permit'iiow. of lfluid. The washer 62 cn the sleeve ,66 is `pushed rearwardly away from the shoulder 44 -a suicient -distance to permit the flow of fluid through member 1, laterally extending aperture 9 therein, and through the registered apertures 63 and 50 in the'movable `sleeve 6D and the cylindrical member 41 respectively.

Upon disconnection .of the coupling, the locking sleeve'llil is moved vout of` engagement with .the `balls 31 thereby permitting the male mem- 4 ber I to be moved outwardly from the female member 38 wherein the washer I2 sealingly engages the spring-urged sleeve I4 and the washer 62 on the movable sleeve 66 sealingly engages the shoulder 44 of the cylindrical shell 3l. When the female member 36 is disconnected, the aperture 63 in the movable sleeve 60 registers with air vent 55 which is vented to atmosphere through venting aperture 56. 'I he venting aperture 56 may be drilled or 'provided :in any other suitable way. When the `:female member is in a disconnected position as shown in Fig. 5, the camming -or locking sleeve 4B is held against the force of the vspring 52 by the ball members 31 which lmovable sleeve 65.

are forced outwardly by the reduced end of the It will thus be seen that it is merely necessary to insert the male member I members I and 36 lock together automatically Lil without manual intervention.

The modiiied `form of my coupling shown in Figs. 6 and 'I' operates substantially the same as my novel couplingvshown in Figs. l to 5 inclusive, except for a few slight changes 4in the movable sleeve in the -female member. The male member 10 is exactly the same as the male member shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. The female member 1l comprises an outer shell 12 having stepped portions 13 and 14, ball retaining apertures 15 for retaining balls or camming -members 16, a peripheral groove 11 for receiving a spring clip 13 to limit the longitudinal movement of a lockingsleeve 19, an internal shoulder 85, an internal peripheral washer groove BI for receiving a washer 82, and an internally threaded portion 83 for threadably engaging enlarged threaded portion 84 of a concentrically disposed cylindrical member 85. The cylindrical member has an enlarged wrench engaging portion 86 in sealing engagement with a washer 81, laterally extending apertures 88, and an internally threaded portion 33, for threadably'engaging the threaded portion S6 of an -L-shaped member BI. A sleeve 92 is telescopically disposed, on the cylindrical member and is urged against the L-shaped member BI by spring 93. The sleeve 92 has a laterally extending aperture 94 for registration with the laterally extending aperture 88 in the cylindrical member 85.- The cylindrical member 85 has a venting aperture 95 extending therethrough. A 'cup-shaped sleeve 66 has a chamfered internal portion 91, an outwardly directed ange portion 98, and a washer 99 in a groove H36 adjacent to iiange portion 93 to sealingly engage the shoulder 88 in the outer shell 12. Cup-shaped member s6 has a depressed portion IQI in the end thereof for nesting the iianged end 8 of the male member 16. Spring IGZ urges the cup-shaped member 96 to a position shown in Fig. 1 wherein the washer 9S sealingly engages the shoulder 60 of the shell 12.

When Vthe male and female coupling members I and 16 are disconnected as shown in Fig. 7, the washer 99 on the cup-shaped member 96 is urged tosealing relationship with the shoulder 8G of the shell 12 by spring |02 thereby sealing the coupling from dust and dirt and also sealing the fluid therein. The interior of the coupling between the cylindrical member 85 and the outer shell 12 is vented to atmosphere by the vent 95 in the cylindrical member 85. In the disconnected position, the aperture 94 in the sleeve 62 is urged out Vof registry with the aperture B8 in the cylindrical member 85 thereby sealing the aperture 85 to the ow lof fluid.

On connection of the coupling members 'I0 and 1|, the male member 1l) operates the same as the male member I shown and described in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive wherein the spring 22 urges the balls 1E into locking engagement with the groove 23 in the sleeve 1 of the male member 1|). The flange portion 8 of the sleeve 1 of the male member I nest in the depressed portion IUI of the cup-shaped member 96 and forces it rearwardly to a position shown in Fig. 6 a predetermined distance from the shoulder 80 of the shell 'I2 thereby permitting flow of fluid through the laterally extending apertures 9 in the sleeve 1 of the male member I. When the cup-shaped member 96 is forced to its ultimate inward position, the sleeve 92 is also forced rearwardly wherein the aperture 94 therein registers with the laterally extending aperture 88 in the cylindrical member 85 thereby permitting flow of uid between the male member 1|] and the female member 1| and vice versa. It will be apparent that the operation of the male member 18 and female member 1| as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is substantially the same as the operation of my novel coupling shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

Fig. 8 shows another modification of the female coupling member of my novel coupling whereby the uid in the female coupling member is disposed in all portions thereof at all times. The female coupling member shown in Fig. 8 comprises an outer cylindrical shell |3I having reduced step portions |32 and |33, an internal peripheral groove |34 for receiving a Washer |35, ball retaining apertures |38 for receiving camming or ball members |31, a spring clip groove |38 for nesting a spring clip |39 for limiting and stopping the longitudinal movement of a camming or locking sleeve |40 which moves over the reduced portion |33 of the shell ISI, and an internally threaded portion |45. The camming or locking sleeve |40 has a camming portion I4| for engaging the balls |31 and a spring member |42 urges the camming portion I4| of the locking sleeve |40 into locking engagement with the balls |31 to urge them into the groove 23 in the sleeve |4 and into engagement with the spring 22 of the male member whereby the balls |1 of the male member I are locked into the groove ||J on the sleeve 1 as shown in Fig. 1. The cylindrical shell |3| has an internal shoulder The internally threaded portion |45 on the end thereof threadably engages the enlarged threaded portion |46 of a concentrically disposed cylindrical member |41. The cylindrical member |41 has an outwardly extending wrench engaging portion |48, a threaded portion |49 for threadably engaging a hose coupling or the like, laterally outwardly extending apertures |58, a peripheral washer groove |5I for receiving washer |52, a wall portion |53 and-an outwardly extending portion |54. A movable cup-shaped sleeve I6@ is telescopically disposed on the cylindrical member |41 and it has a shoulder ISI with an adjacently disposed ring washer |52 for sealing engaging the shoulder |44 of the outer shell ISI. I'he movable sleeve |60 has an end wall |53, and a depressed portion |64 for nesting the end of the flange portion 8 of the male member I. Spring |68 urges the washer |52 on the movable sleeve into sealing engagement with the shoulder |44 of the outer shell I3I.

When the female coupling member |30 shown in Fig. 8 is disconnected, the fluid is sealed therein by the sealing engagement of the washer |62 on the movable sleeve |60 with the shoulder 6 |44 of the outer shell I3I through the force of the spring |66. Upon insertion of the male member I into the female member |38, the sleeve |68 is forced to the rear until the end thereof clears the shoulder I 44 of the outer shell |3I thereby permitting flow of fluid through the laterally extending apertures 9 in the male member and through the laterally extending apertures |50 in the cylindrical member |41 and vice versa. In the operation of this modified form of coupling, the male member operates identically the same as has heretofore been described.

vIt will be evident from the foregoing description that I have provided a novel coupling which is especially adapted for vacuum because the sleeve I4 moves on the outer side of the sleeve 1 of the male member I and it is not necessary for a spring-urged check valve within the male member to work and sealingly engage the end thereof as in previous couplings. I have further provided venting means which leave the female coupling member free from locked fluid at all times thereby permitting easy connection of the male and female/members. lAll parts of my novel coupling members are simple and the lengths thereof have been materially shortened and considerable material is saved. Likewise my novel coupling permits a maximum flow of fluid therethrough upon connection thereof. Suitable sealing means are provided at all points of my novel coupling. Furthermore, l', provide means for sealing out all dirt, dust and the like from my novel coupling when they are in a disconnected position which is very important in utilizing the coupling between a truck and a trailer wherein the coupler is exposed to road dust, dirt and the like. Furthermore, connection between the coupling members may be made by merely inserting the male member into the female member.

Various changes may be made in the specific embodiment of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A coupling comprising a female member; and a male member comprising a cylindrical member with an end ange and a laterally extending aperture, a spring-urged sleeve movable over said aperture for sealing engagement therewith and with said end flange of said cylindrical member when said male member is disconnected from said female member, means in said female member for moving said sleeve in said male member out of sealing engagement with the aperture in said cylindrical member, cani means for locking said sleeve in a predetermined position when engaged, and means for connecting said male and female members together.

2. A coupling as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for locking said movable sleeve on the cylindrical member of said male member a predetermined distance from the end flange thereof comprises a peripheral groove on said cylindrical member and camming members carried by said movable sleeve adapted to engage said groove when said male member is inserted into said female member.

3. A coupling as set forth in claim 2 wherein a flat circular spring is disposed over said ball members retained by said sleeve.

4. A coupling comprising a male member having a connecting portion and a female member comprising a cylindrical shell having an internal shoulder, a cylindrical member disposed concentrically of said shell having a laterally extending abba-,eso

aperture. a spring-urged movable sleeve adapted to sealingly engage said shoulder when said female member is disconnected and having a laterally extending aperture adapted to register with the aperture in said cylindrical member when said male and female coupling members are connected together for the flow of fluid, and means for connecting said male and female members together.

5. A coupling as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cylindrical member has a venting aperture adapted to vent the portion of said coupling between said outer shell and said inner cylindrical member to atmosphere when said female coupling member is disconnected.

6. A coupling as set forth in claim 5 wherein said movable sleeve is cup-shaped and telescopically disp-osed on said cylindrical member and a spring is disposed between said sleeve and the end of said cylindrical member.

7. A coupling comprising a male member having a connecting portion with a laterally extending aperture, a sleeve movable over said laterally extending aperture, and means Ifor locking said sleeve in a position out of sealing engagement with said laterally extending aperture when said male member is connected to a female member, and a female member comprising an outer shell, an inner concentrically disposed, cylindrical member having a laterally extending aperture, a cup-shaped, telescopically disposed sleeve on said cylindrical member having an aperture, a spring between said cylindrical member and said movable sleeve adapted to move said movable sleeve into sealing engagement with the end of said cylindrical shell, said male member being adapted to move said aperture in said movable sleeve in said female member to a position in registry with the aperture in said cylindrical member When said male and female coupling members are connected together, and means for connecting said male and female coupling members together.

8. A coupling as set forth in claim 7 wherein venting means are provided for venting the portion of said female coupling member between said outer shell and said inner cylindrical member to atmosphere when said female coupling member is disconnected.

9. A coupling comprising a male member having a connecting portion, and a female member comprising an outer shell, an inner shell with a laterally extending aperture, a sleeve telescopically disposed on said inner shell having an aperture, a spring-urged, cup-Shaped sleeve adapted to sealingly engage the end of said outer shell when the coupling is disconnected and adapted to telescope on said inner shell when said male and female members are connected together, said apertures in said sleeve and said inner shell adapted to register when said male and female members are connected together and means for connecting said male and female members together.

10. A coupling as set forth in claim 9' wherein means are provided for venting a portion of saidfemale coupling member to atmosphere when it is disconnected from said male member.

1l. A coupling as set forth in claim 9 wherein said male member has a movable sleeve thereon adapted to sealingly engage the end of said male member when it is disconnected from said female member.

12. A coupling as set forth in claim 11 wherein means are provided for locking said movable sleeve on said male member out of sealing engagement with the end of said male member when it is connected to said female member.

13. A coupling as set forth in claim 12 wherein said locking means for said sleeve on said male member comprises camming members urged into a groove by the locking means on said female member when said male and female members are connected together.

14. A coupling'comprising a male member having an apertured connecting portion, and means for sealing the end thereof when disconnected; and a female member comprising an outer shell, a spaced inner shell having a laterally extending aperture, a spring-urged apertured sleeve telescopically disposed on said inner shell adapted to seal the end of said female member, and means for connecting said male and female coupling members together, said connecting portion of said male member being adapted to move said springurged sleeve in said female member longitudinally upon insertion thereof into said female member whereby fluid flows from said male member to said female member and vice versa through the aperture in the connecting portion of said male member and the apertures in said inner shell and said telescopically disposed, apertured sleeve thereon.

15. A coupling as set forth in claim 14 wherein the space between said sleeve and said inner shell is vented to atmosphere.

16. A coupling as set forth in claim 14 wherein said spring-urged, apertured, telescopically disposed sleeve on said inner shell comprises an apertured cylindrical member telescopically disposed on said sleeve and a cup-shaped member having an outwardly directed flange in telescopic engagement with said apertured cylindrical member.

ALBERT T. SCHEIWER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Gunderson Jan. 29, 1946 

